'It felt like I was living with a stranger': How lockdown, booze and resentment turned a once loving couple against one another

straight to your inbox every day for free Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz has slammed the decision to award Manchester United a second-half penalty in their win on New Year's Day. United moved level on points with Liverpool in the Premier League after a hard-fought 2-1 win at Old Trafford.

direct to your inboxFive years ago, a photograph taken outside the Arndale in Manchester city centre became an internet sensation.The image, taken on Well Street by Joel Goodman captured in the early hours of New Year's Day 2016, captured something quintessentially Manc.A man, later identified as Mike Deveney, stole the show.Sprawled in the street reaching for a bottle of lager with his belly out, he would soon be recognised by people around the world.Nearby, police grapple with a reveller,

direct to your inboxAs the clock struck midnight this New Year, snow fell onto the empty streets of Manchester city centre.Fireworks filled the sky as people celebrated at home and some shouted 'Happy New Year' from their balconies.Earlier in the evening, there was an eerie feel as fog masked much of the city and temperatures dropped to almost freezing.The usual nightlife hotspots were empty.Shutters were down on bars and pubs, though some, who perhaps had a glimmer of hope that they would be

direct to your inboxParents and teachers in Greater Manchester have spoken of their anger at the government's decision to only close primary schools in London and the South East - despite soaring coronavirus cases.Education secretary Gavin Williamson confirmed yesterday he was triggering the 'contingency framework' that will see all secondary schools have an extra week's holiday.Face-to-face teaching for exam year groups will resume from 11 January and all students will return on 18 January,

straight to your inbox every day for freeThe careers of Ander Herrera and Romelu Lukaku are not going to go down in Manchester United history. Perhaps it is the unfortunate timing of their spells at the club, in the post Sir Alex Ferguson era, or more importantly the fact that neither won a Premier League title at United.

direct to your inboxThere's no simple way to sum up 2020.Overwhelming, terrifying, resilient, heroic and hopeful -  life, at times this year, seemed to be all those things and a hundred others all at once.Schools closed, supermarket shelves were emptied, millions of people were furloughed or working from home and our high streets became ghost towns.Few people will regard 2020 with fondness.But in years to come many will remember it with pride.Here we take a look back at the headlines of the last

Greater Manchester certainly has a lot to look forward to. Despite a challenging 12 months, the region already has a long list of new developments coming up in the next year and through to 2023.

direct to your inboxA group of teenage lads are stood around chatting in the bus station at Piccadilly Gardens.They don't seem to have noticed, but sat on the pavement below them begging is Alex Tomlinson.'Excuse me', she says angrily as they almost step on her, 'I'm f****** sat here'.Alex, 23, has been homeless since she left care as a teenager."Because I'm sat on the floor people look down on me.

direct to your inboxForecasters have posted three flood alerts across Greater Manchester as Storm Bella wreaks havoc in parts of the country.People in communities in Trafford, Stockport and Tameside close to the River Mersey valley and also residents in Oldham, Bolton and Rochdale in the River Irk catchment have been urged to be prepared for possible flooding.Met Office forecasters have warned that Storm Bella could bring 70mph winds and heavy rain to parts of the UK on Saturday, with the worst

straight to your inbox every day for freeDavid de GeaCareless with his feet and then his footwork was awry for Harvey Barnes' equaliser. Leicester preyed on his discomfort with the ball at his feet.

straight to your inbox every day for freeOle Gunnar Solskjaer was looking to 'change the dynamics of the game' when he introduced Luke Shaw during Manchester United's victory over Everton in the Carabao Cup.United booked their place in the last four of the competition on Wednesday night thanks to late strikes from Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial.Both of the goals came after left-back Shaw replaced Alex Telles in the 85th minute of the match in a substitution which raised eyebrows as United

straight to your inbox every day for freeLuke Shaw believes Manchester United should not be ruled out in this season's Premier League title race.United sit five points behind league leaders Liverpool heading into the festive period but have a game in hand over their Merseyside rivals.The Reds have won four of their last five league fixtures under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and became only the fourth team in top-flight history to win 10 successive away games in the league.Despite the disappointment of

straight to your inbox every day for freeScott McTominay and Luke Shaw could miss Manchester United's Carabao Cup quarter-final with Everton on Wednesday.The duo started in United's 6-2 thrashing of Leeds on Sunday but Shaw came off in the first-half due to illness and McTominay was forced off late on with a groin strain.Shaw, 25, reported at United's team hotel an hour later than the rest of his teammates on Saturday night as he had been unwell and was only passed fit on Sunday

direct to your inboxThree people were taken to hospital after a flat went up in flames in Burnage.Firefighters were called to the property on Burnage Lane, near to the junction of Green End Road, shortly after 6pm on Friday.Three residents were evacuated from the building and then taken to hospital by ambulance crews.It's understood that they were taken to hospital for precautionary checks.The cause of the fire is unknown.